📚 I love him…Anyway 2 📚

Tears coursed down Melinda’s face as the doctor’s words resonated inside her. Jeremy stood beside the hospital bed holding her hand is if someone shot him.
“I am so sorry Mr. and Mrs. Stuart, I am so sorry, last week everything seemed fine. The only thing I can offer is perhaps something happened with the fetus…” the doctor said. Melinda turned her tear stained face to look into the doctor’s eyes.
“Fetus? Doctor, I am eight months pregnant. I didn’t lose a fetus; I lost a baby, a baby who if he had been born would have been viable. My baby is dead inside me and you need to keep the platitudes and deliver him so I can grieve.”
Jeremy clutched her hands tighter, unable to speak and glanced at his mother, Marva and Melinda’s mother, Alicia who had flown in from Miami to find out hours later her grandchild passed.
The doctor nodded, telling them they were taking Melinda to surgery. Jeremy kissed her gently, telling her he loved her before walking out behind his mother and mother in law.
The three of them sat quietly in the waiting room unable to offer words of comfort to the other. Everything happened so quickly. Alicia arrived, they were planning dinner and a shower and suddenly Melinda didn’t feel well and was cramping. The doctor told them to come to the hospital and it was discovered their child was no longer alive. Jeremy felt as if something in him died also.
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“Hey.” Jeremy said when Melinda’s eyes opened.
She had been under general anesthesia and was in recovery. She touched her belly and Jeremy flinched. The pain on her face matched his internal anguish. He could not imagine how she must feel having carried their child.
“Where is he?”
“Your dad isn’t here, your mom is with mom; they are getting food in the cafeteria.”
“No, I mean the baby?”
“They have him, I mean he is in the…” He was unable to say morgue.
“I want to have a proper funeral,” Melinda said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m positive and when that is done, I think we need to discuss this marriage.”
Jeremy felt as if she had punched him. “What about it? Things have been good,” he murmured.
“We need to discuss if it is viable or if like our son, it is gone.” Turning away, she closed her eyes, leaving Jeremy unsure what to say.
There had been some struggles but he thought they were past those and settled into a routine, preparing for the baby. He dropped down in the chair next to her.

REVIEW:

When my life is in disarray my reading suffers. This last past month my reading suffered a lot. However, Jeremy and Melinda brought me out of my current slump.

The second book in the series is a prelude of sorts. It starts off with Melinda and Jeremy facing the tragic event of losing their first born child. That in itself is hard enough but the challenges their marriage will face doesn’t stop there.

Melinda has been harboring a secret from Jeremy, secrets that leave him wondering, who did he marry. The aftermath that follows the loss of her child, sends Melinda into several stages. Her jealousy of Florence increases, making the friends, now frienemies. Yet while everyone is focused on Melinda’s pain and suffering most seem to forget about Jeremy and his pain. Losing a child is hard for any parent and being a man Jeremy had to place his feelings on hold to deal with those of his wife.

This author is no stranger to tackling issues that plague the community as a whole. In I love him…Anway II: Jeremy and Melinda deal with many of those issues. Covering up the ugly with a pretty bandage doesn’t erase it nor heal it. Melinda and Jeremy learn this lesson the hard way. Will their marriage survive? Grab your copy and find out.

Dillon hadn’t been called by anyone. He’d called himself and he wasn’t ashamed of it. But no good can come from . . .

A SINFUL CALLING

Two years ago, to everyone’s surprise, Dillon Whitfield Black, the secret son of Reverend Curtis Black, boldly moved back home, married a woman named Raven, decided he was going to become a minister, and then founded a church right in the center of his living room. Today he’s pastor of a 1,000-plus-member congregation, and new members are joining weekly. Sadly, behind closed doors, Dillon is far from being a saint. Dillon has become more like the man his father was thirty years ago-consumed with money, power, and lots of women. His family may have let bygones be bygones, but they continue to keep their distance.

Not Alicia, though. This daughter of Curtis Black joins Dillon’s congregation, leaving her father’s church behind. The family has forgiven Alicia for marrying Levi Cunningham, the former drug dealer she had an affair with, but once Alicia realizes they will never fully accept Levi, she decides to see her family less and less. She and Levi are truly happy, however, guilt from her betrayal of Phillip and its aftermath casts a shadow over their wedded bliss.

But when Raven decides she wants a higher position in the church and Alicia hides a devastating secret, the entire family is affected in ways they don’t see coming. In the end, no one will be able to trust anyone . . . and for very good reason.

REVIEW:

The Black’s are back….The Black’s are back!!

Dillon hadn’t been called by anyone. He’d called himself and he wasn’t ashamed of it. But no good can come from . . .

Book 13 focuses on the lives of Dillion Whitfield Black, the first born child of Rev. Curtis Black and his daughter Alicia. When Dillion returns to Mitchell with plans to take over Mitchell’s mega church position, he didn’t count on real salvation taking root in his life. Married to Raven, Dillion’s relationship with the other members of the Black family are non-existent with the exception of Alicia and her husband Levi. As their bond grows strong, secrets hidden by both Alicia and Dillion begin to unravel and threaten to tear both of their lives apart.

After being ostracized from her family after her first husband’s death, Alicia struggles with some issues, she’s afraid to tell anyone including her husband Levi.

Can the pot call the kettle black?

Will the lesson’s taught weekly during Sunday service, by Rev. Black finally hit home. Faith, Love, Family, and forgiveness are all lessons that continually go around.

Over the years I’ve enjoyed all the books in the Curtis Black series, and this one was no different. Kimberla Roby tackled many issues such as depression, alcoholism, mental illness and family virtue and wrapped them all up in a pretty package that anyone could comprehend.

📚 Suicide Watch by Janell 📚

What you don’t know can kill you. A wave of suicidal behavior has gripped the nation with no concern for race, gender, or age. Many think it’s just a trend, but inspirational singer Candace Tremont knows better. Since witnessing the suicide of her husband five years prior, she’s committed her life to fighting the spirit of depression. Unfortunately, suicidal thoughts and dreams also plague her mind, making the war more personal than anyone around her realizes. Unfulfilled with periodic and low-paying gigs, Candace yearns for an opportunity to touch more lives. Her prayers are answered—or so it seems—when she is offered a temporary job at Ontario Correctional Facility, performing for suicidal female inmates. A surge of self-harming behaviors has put the facility at risk for shut down, and Candace’s music might be the staff’s final hope of keeping their jobs. In addition to a substantial fee, Candace is given the assistance of the handsome Julius Barnes, one of the prison’s psychologists who believes her music can help reduce the lethal behaviors of the incarcerated population. However, Apollius, a fallen angel committed to destruction, has other ideas for the inmates, and won’t give up his control over these women so easily. A supernatural battle of epic proportions has ignited in Upstate New York, and the consequences could be fatal. Are Candace’s songs of faith powerful enough to save the lives of the inmates and keep the facility from closing down indefinitely? Or will her interference with Apollius’ plan make her the next target?

REVIEW:

Following the death of her husband, Candace Tremont felt her life was in shambles. Knowing she’d never lived to her full potential during her marriage, Candace finds new purpose after death. Julius Barnes can’t believe that Letizia is gone, by suicide no less. At the funeral of his childhood friend and celebrity, Julius lays eyes on Candace whom he hasn’t seen in years. After hearing her singing the most tranquil, spirit lifting words he’s ever heard, Julius feels a peace beyond understanding.

Either through sheer coincidence or divine interaction that their paths crossed Candace and Julius lives both changes after that chance meeting. Back at OCF, Julius’ job as Psychologist is on shaky ground after the double suicide of two inmates within the same hour. Feeling as his back is against the wall, Julius urges his supervisor to take on a daring and drastic therapeutic session for group therapy.

Dark forces are working hard to destroy the lives of inmates at OCF, will their plan succeed and successful close the doors to the facility? Apollius’ is confident in his conniving and views his imminent success as the gateway to greater deeds in the underworld.

It is my whole hearted opinion that the main goal of any author is to have their work reach out and touch the reader in profound ways. Although this is a fictional novel, the depths of the words and meaning goes far beyond mere fiction. This author has undertaken a subject matter that affects millions of people daily. Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. Combining spirituality and music therapy to combat the stronghold of depression brings this fictional piece to reality. This book evokes robust reactions at various times while holding the you captive with each passionate stroke of her pen.

While I highly recommend this book, I must include this disclaimer: this book is highly suggestive. The language while not vulgar nor overbearing with Christianity does deal with the spiritual warfare of souls. Most all religions believe in the forces of good and evil and that spirits can dwell in beings and words.

📚After the Pain📚

Barely grasping on to her sanity due to past trauma and unhappiness, LaVonda Ingram leaves her home in search of peace and finds it in the love of a beautiful man. But will she be able to hold on to the healing and peace his love provides?

This is book one of the Latter Rain series–stories of women over forty finding love.

REVIEW:

Sometimes we have to deal with the hand we’re given, but for LaVonda Ingram, that hand has overflowed. Beginning with the sudden loss of her mother, LaVonda has dealt with many issues surrounding a disorder that many tend to overlook. Depression is a serious illness that affects over 40 Million people in the U.S. alone. Kudo’s to the author for starting with a serious issue and dealing with it in a realistic manner.

Welcome to Hyacinth Manor, where reservations are by invitation only. After giving into a round of depression and slight mental lapse, LaVonda is sent to a mental facility to deal with her depression. She knows all too well what to do to appease people so she released and returns home. One night after, she’s ready to leave. With no destination in mind, she winds up at Hyacinth Manor.

Upon her arrival at Hyacinth Manor, the owner/clerk takes one look at her and knows exactly where she belongs, Room Ten. Believing in the power of love and healing, Ms. Rosa sees that LaVonda is in need of both.

This was another great read by this author. I’ve read a few of her books and she never ceases to fail me. She takes a tough issue and tackles it head on. On another note, I thought I’d previously left this review until I got a notification to review the book from Amazon, lol.